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Abdel KasemIraqi political and military leader.
Country:
 Iraq |
Content:
- Biography of Abdel Karim Kassem
- Early Life and Education
- Military Career
- The Revolution and Prime Ministership
- Challenges and Downfall
- Conflict with Kuwait and Assassination Attempt
- Assassination Attempt and Overthrow
Biography of Abdel Karim Kassem
Abdel Karim Kassem (1914 – February 9, 1963) was a political and military figure in Iraq. He served as the Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Iraq from 1958 to 1963, as well as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Iraq. Kassem led the 1958 revolution that overthrew the monarchy and established a military regime. However, he was later overthrown and executed in a military coup. There are different variations of his name, including Abdel Kassem, Abdel-Karim Kaasim, or Abdel Karim Kassem. During his rule, he was widely known as az-Zaim, which translates to "the sole leader."
Early Life and Education
Abdel Karim Kassem was born into a poor carpenter's family in Baghdad. His father, a Sunni by origin, died after his birth while serving as a soldier in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. His mother, of Shiite origin, was the daughter of a Kurdish farmer. When Kassem was six years old, his family moved to Shuwaire, a small town near the Tigris River, and then to Baghdad in 1926. Kassem excelled as a student and received a scholarship to attend secondary school. After completing his studies in 1931, he worked as a teacher in a primary school. However, he was dismissed when he enrolled in a military college, from which he graduated as a second lieutenant in 1934.
Military Career
Abdel Karim Kassem actively participated in suppressing tribal unrest in the Euphrates region, as well as the Anglo-Iraqi War in May 1941 and military operations in Kurdistan in 1945. He also took part in the Arab-Israeli War from May 1948 to June 1949. In 1955, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. Kassem became a leader of a revolutionary movement within the army, which aimed to overthrow the monarchy based on the experience of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser's seizure of power. In 1956, a secret revolutionary organization called the "Free Officers" was formed within the Iraqi army, and a year later, the National Unity Front was established, consisting of the National Democratic Party, the Arab Ba'ath Socialist Party, Istiqlal, and the Iraqi Communist Party.
The Revolution and Prime Ministership
On July 14, Abdel Karim Kassem led a coup. The 19th and 20th brigades of the 3rd division of the Iraqi army, commanded by Colonels Abdel Karim Kassem and Abdel Salam Aref, received orders to go to Jordan. However, Kassem and Aref's officer corps decided to take advantage of the situation to seize Baghdad and overthrow the pro-imperialist regime. In the early hours of the morning, revolutionary army units entered Baghdad, crossed the Faisal Bridge, occupied the radio center and central telegraph, and surrounded the royal palace of Kasr-al-Rihab. The civilian population also joined the military. By sunrise, the palace had fallen, and King Faisal II and his regent, Abdul Illah, were given an ultimatum to surrender. As they left the palace, Lieutenant Abdel Sattar al-Abousi opened fire without orders and shot almost the entire royal family. Faisal II later died from his wounds in the hospital. The next morning, Baghdad Radio announced, "The Iraqi Republic Speaks! Today is a day of victory and glory. The enemies of God and the people are killed and thrown into the streets. We will be united in the struggle against imperialism and its agents!" After the revolution, there was a purge of the royal elite, including the execution of Prime Minister Nuri al-Said. The British Embassy was burned down as a sign of deep-seated hatred towards British imperialism. The people tore down monuments to King Faisal I and British General Maude and threw them into the Tigris River. Kassem declared Iraq a republic and assumed the role of Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. His government included both military and civilian figures. He established closer ties with the Soviet Union, rearming the Iraqi army through agreements in 1959 for the supply of Soviet weapons and military training. He canceled the Treaty of Mutual Security and bilateral relations with Britain, as well as military agreements with the United States. On May 30, 1959, the last British soldier left the country. A temporary constitution of the Iraqi Republic was adopted on July 26, 1958, proclaiming the equality of all Iraqi citizens before the law and granting them freedoms regardless of race, nationality, language, or religion. Political parties, including the Iraqi Communist Party, resumed their activities. Kassem released political prisoners and granted amnesty to the Kurds who participated in Kurdish uprisings in 1943 and 1945.
Challenges and Downfall
Despite his popularity, Kassem's authoritarian style of rule did not sit well with the people. In September 1958, a land reform law was introduced, which limited feudal landownership. However, it did not completely eradicate it. The government confiscated half of the land owned by feudal lords and redistributed it among landless peasants. Compensation was provided to the landowners for the expropriated land. The government also introduced an 8-hour workday. These reforms faced strong opposition from the feudal and bourgeois comprador reactionaries. In the midst of political tension, Kassem consolidated his personal dictatorship, which caused dissatisfaction even among his political allies. He maintained control over the secret police and security services, thwarting several assassination attempts. From the mid-1959, Kassem's government pursued a policy of balancing between right-wing and left-wing forces, limiting or even suppressing the activities of patriotic organizations. After the overthrow of the monarchy, the Kassem regime made significant concessions to the Kurds, including their inclusion in the government. However, Kassem's government later shifted its support towards Arab nationalists, leading to a deterioration of relations with the Kurds. In 1961, Kassem decided to resolve the "Kurdish question" and concentrated troops in Kurdistan. The Kurdish rebellion led by Mustafa Barzani began in September, escalating into a full-scale armed conflict. Despite the Iraqi army's numerical and technical superiority, the Kurdish forces, using guerrilla tactics, inflicted one defeat after another. Barzani managed to expel government forces from the mountainous regions and gain full control over Kurdistan.
Conflict with Kuwait and Assassination Attempt
In 1961, Kassem refused to recognize Kuwait's independence and declared it part of Iraqi territory. This led to tensions between Iraq and Kuwait, with the possibility of military aggression. The United Kingdom deployed its forces in Kuwait to deter Iraq, and Arab countries, led by Saudi Arabia, sent troops to defend Kuwait against potential Iraqi aggression. However, Kassem's government continued to escalate the situation, prompting the United Kingdom to send naval forces to the Persian Gulf in December. Baghdad announced a review of diplomatic relations with countries recognizing Kuwait. Iraq's aggressive policies isolated the country within the Arab world. The threat to Kuwait temporarily subsided only after Kassem's regime was overthrown [12].
Assassination Attempt and Overthrow
The Ba'ath Party, which was still in its early stages with few members in 1958, aimed to come to power and change the political regime. However, they first needed to remove General Kassem from power. On October 7, a group of conspirators attempted to assassinate the Prime Minister, including a young Saddam Hussein. Saddam was not part of the main group but was in the vicinity. However, his nerves got the better of him, and he opened fire on the General's car as it approached, disrupting the entire operation. The driver of the Prime Minister was killed, but Abdel Karim Kassem, seriously wounded, survived. Saddam Hussein, lightly injured, managed to escape through Syria to Egypt. Three weeks later, Kassem was discharged from the hospital. The entire country learned about the Ba'ath Party and its fighter, Saddam Hussein, the future President of Iraq, as a result of the assassination attempt. The Ba'ath Party was subsequently banned, and seventeen Ba'athists were sentenced to death and executed. Many others received various prison terms. Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death in absentia.
General Kassem remained popular among the people. In early 1963, he boasted that he had successfully survived 38 assassination attempts and conspiracies. However, his former allies continued their struggle against him. The closer ties with the communists, the Kurdish uprising in 1961, and student strikes in 1962 further weakened Kassem's regime. General Aref, who had returned from exile, joined forces with the Ba'ath Party in a secret alliance. On February 8, 1963, the Ba'ath Party, along with a group of army officers, launched a coup against Kassem. He was captured, and on February 9, 1963, Kassem was executed. The Ba'ath Party took control of Iraq and imposed its own rule. Saddam Hussein, who had played a significant role in the coup, rose through the ranks to become President of Iraq in 1979.
